Lecturers with disabilities protest, demanding fair hiring practices

AMMAN — Nine PhD holders staged a sit-in protest in front of the Higher Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities on Thursday demanding the council’s intervention in their hiring process as lecturers at public universities.

Ala’ Mahfouz, a PhD holder who works as a part-time lecturer at a university in Jordan, revealed to The Jordan Times that individuals with disabilities do not undergo the standard hiring process for lecturers at Jordanian universities.

“Each lecturer with disabilities was only hired after organising sit-ins and protests,” Mahfouz claimed.

Mahfouz expressed that he personally experienced what he considers to be an “unfair” incident at the university he is affiliated with. An official at the university informed him that he was “incapable of managing a classroom because of his visual impairment”, he said.

“We implore the council to extend its support and assist us in advancing our career paths,” Mahfouz added.

Muhannad Al Azzeh, HCD secretary-general, told The Jordan Times that the council has engaged with the protesters on five occasions in an attempt to address their demands.

Azzeh emphasised that universities, like any other entity, have established hiring criteria, including specific exams and interviews that candidates must successfully navigate for employment.

“The council only intervenes in cases of discrimination against individuals with disabilities. If a PhD candidate successfully completes all exams and interviews but is not hired due to their disability, the council will intervene,” Azzeh explained.

One of the protesters highlighted the consistent presence of job openings at Jordanian universities. However, individuals with disabilities are frequently not selected for full-time positions due to their disabilities.

Fuad Shajrawi, a PhD holder, told The Jordan Times on Monday that the People with Disabilities’ Law of 2017 mandates that 4 per cent of vacancies should be reserved for people with disabilities.

“Unfortunately, none of the universities adhere to this 4 per cent requirement,” Shajrawi added.

Azzeh acknowledged that while the 4 per cent quota for individuals with disabilities is indeed a legal requirement, these positions are not exclusively confined to academic roles. They extend to encompass management and various job responsibilities. Consequently, certain universities might already have met this percentage requirement, he said.

Azzeh pointed out that there are lecturers with disabilities at the University of Jordan, University of Mu’tah and the University of Al al-Bayt.

“We are currently working as teachers in public schools under the purview of the Education Ministry.  However, this is not where we truly belong, considering our collective efforts. I firmly believe that we deserve promotion to the role of university professors. Given the provision of 4 per cent of vacancies to people with disabilities according to the law, there should be a tangible opportunity for our employment within universities,” Shajrawi added.